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Trade Deadline looming, Morneau, Perkins want to stay

Trade Deadline looming, Morneau, Perkins want to stay

7/14/13: Justin Morneau makes a diving play on a grounder off the bat of Travis Hafner and throws to second for the force in the third

By Rhett Bollinger
/
MLB.com |

MINNEAPOLIS -- With the All-Star Game in the rearview mirror, the July 31 Trade Deadline looms for the Twins, who are expected to be sellers after losing 12 of 15 entering the break.

First baseman Justin Morneau and closer Glen Perkins are the club's two biggest trade chips, but Twins general manager Terry Ryan said he'll listen to potential offers for any of the club's players. Others who could be available include veteran right-handers Mike Pelfrey and Kevin Correia and veteran utility infielder Jamey Carroll.

"Whenever you have deadlines, it always picks up whenever you get closer to it, so I'm sure it will," Ryan said. "There are teams that want to move quickly and others who want to find out where they stand. The next week will be a big deal for a lot of teams."

Morneau is making $14 million this season, the last of a six-year deal, and he said he's trying his best to ignore all the trade rumors surrounding him.

"It's out of my control," Morneau said. "I'm not too worried about it. If it happens, I'll deal with it. If not, I'm happy to play here."

Morneau added that his camp has not been contacted by the Twins about a possible extension, and that he has six teams on a limited no-trade clause, but none of those are listed as potential suitors. Teams reportedly interested in Morneau are the Yankees, Rays, Orioles, Red Sox and Pirates.

Morneau also wouldn't say if he'd re-sign with the Twins this offseason if he were dealt, as he didn't want to answer any hypothetical questions. But he did note that if it were up to him, he'd stay with Minnesota.

"I think it's more rewarding to win with the organization you've grown up with and the people that you almost become a family with," said Morneau, who has played with the Twins since '03. "It's a place where I'm happy and we've won here, which is always the goal. But it's not up to me, so we'll see what happens."

Perkins, a Stillwater, Minn., native, has made it clear that his preference is to remain with the Twins, especially after signing a three-year extension before last season with a $4.5 million option for '16.

"Everyone knows where I want to be," said Perkins, an All-Star for the first time this year. "I guess the thing I really only worry about is going out and pitching. But they'll do what's right for the team, but I think that's me here, so we'll see."